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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Management Transition Comes After Lukewarm Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which highlighted that early feedback sessions had revealed the necessity for a more defined direction.

The president stated that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a renewed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news echoes a comparable move taken by the publisher in the summer, when they recruited an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the beloved franchise studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the complete message from Ismailer's memo:

Team—

I understand you all just completed your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a message, I mentioned the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re excited for that relationship to persist.”

With your dedication and adaptability, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It validated the promise of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

The progress is encouraging to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the input to consideration and overhauled Project ETHOS with a renewed vision - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

The belief in Project ETHOS increases every day. To further the remarkable progress you’ve made, I’m excited to announce the new hire as the incoming Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he comes aboard us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s management and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having dedicated the recent years producing and overseeing some of the most recognizable series in the industry, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in welcoming Ben in the coming days. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the time to come.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman earlier worked at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Concept

Project Ethos was unveiled in October 2024 alongside a early access event. Initially, the developers described the game as a "free-to-play, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an exciting evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the description reads. "Challenge the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every round. Do you safely extract with your valuable rewards? Or aim high, put it on the line, and hope your squad can achieve the highest spot? The decision is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official debut schedule or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as creation progresses.